Armonaitė: There is concern about the plans of foreign investors after ours, the Lithuanian government, attacks on China

 "The Minister of Economy and Innovation has acknowledged that there is concern about the plans of foreign investors operating in Lithuania regarding China's actions towards Lithuania, and that Lithuania' s actions towards China are beyond doubt. According to Aušrinė Armonaitė, the situation is expected to be deescalated.

 

    "There is no information about the companies' plans to change the invesments. There is anxiety, and everyone, of course, hopes that the situation will escalate and resolve, we expect the same," - said A. Armonaitė at the event of the Ministry of Economy and Innovation and the Invest in Lithuania Agency on Monday.

 

    "Recent events have not contributed to the attractiveness of the investment climate (unofficial sanctions imposed by China's companies on Lithuanian businesses over the opening of a Taiwanese representative office in Vilnius last autumn - BNS), but we hope that this will provide an incentive for Lithuania to make decisions such as those we have discussed today, about talent and some other business environment solutions, "- she added.

 

    Elijus Čivilis, the head of "Invest in Lithuania", also said that he had no information about the changed plans of investors in Lithuania.

 

    "As far as the abandonment of our plans by some investors is concerned, we do not have such messages. But, of course, it’s very disturbing if it’s protracted. I think we need more time to really understand what the impact is," -  Elijus Čivilis told BNS on Monday.

 

    Foreign media reported in December that patriotic China' companies was pressuring German automotive parts manufacturer Continental to stop using components made at its plant in Lithuania.

 

    At the end of December, A. Armonaitė confirmed that she had received an appeal from the German Association of Companies addressed to her and the Minister of Foreign Affairs about the pressure from patriotic China's companies.

 

     Elijus Čivilis recently said that 40 percent of Lithuanian companies surveyed are experiencing difficulties due to Chinese sanctions. He acknowledged that foreign investors are choosing politically stable countries, so Lithuania will "somewhat" fall behind the surrounding countries.

 

    The so-called White Paper on the Global Talent Battle was presented on Monday. It is called "An Opportunity for Lithuania's Breakthrough ”, which presents proposals for attracting talent to Lithuania - tax and financial incentives, attraction and integration, and other measures.

 

    In order to attract talent, it is proposed to cooperate with third countries, encourage the return of highly qualified specialists to Lithuania, promote the recommendation of targeted talent, increase the motivation of employers to attract talent and hire foreign and emigrated Lithuanian specialists.

 

    In addition, it is proposed to review migration procedures and administrative practice, to organize Lithuanian language courses for foreigners, and to better integrate foreign students.

 

    On Monday, A. Armonaitė also reiterated that Taiwan is interested in Lithuanian goods and investment opportunities in Lithuania.

 

    "As for Taiwan, there is a real interest in Lithuanian goods as an export direction as well as in investments," said A. Armonaitė.

 

    "We are, of course, working in high value-added sectors such as semiconductors. Typically, such sectors require more labor, more time. That is the work that is going on at the moment and I hope that it will produce tangible results, "she added.

 

    According to the head of "Invest in Lithuania", the processes of Taiwan's intention to invest in Lithuania may take time.

 

    "Indeed, that political activism is also felt at company level. But again, businesses aren’t so inert to make one decision or another so quickly. If there is talk of any kind of investment, it is a process that sometimes takes several years," - said E. Čivilis.

 

    It was recently reported that Taiwan will offer $1 billion in the near future - a loan fund for joint Lithuanian-Taiwanese business projects, in addition, it promises to establish 200 million US dollar fund for investments in Lithuanian industry.

 

    China has recently protested about Lithuania's developing relations with Taiwan and the opening of a representative office of the island in Vilnius.

 

    In the autumn, China stopped freight trains to Lithuania, issued food export permits, reduced credit limits for Lithuanian companies and raised prices, in addition, it removed Lithuania from the customs system, so Lithuanian cargo cannot enter the country.”

Talents come to places where the money is. If no investments - then there is no money- then no talents are showing up.  Please do not waste your breath. And Elijus Čivilis - please also do not waste you breath too.